Originally Posted by
Nostoodian
If UK is officially under lockdown, why the hell are there so many flights still arriving/departing out of Heathrow? Surely, this cannot be helping in containing the virus? Your thoughts?
LHR still handling approx 150 flights daily at the moment which represents about 25% of flights into/out of the UK currently. Plenty of pax arriving/departing, however cargo is at the forefront and seats can be loaded with packages as well as pax, but the real value is what those aircraft have in the holds.
Lots of flights still operating between UK islands/mainland as well as these are considered to be strategically critical routes for the movement of pax and goods. Flights still operating into/out of LGW, MAN, EMA, STN, LTN, SOU, FAB, BQH, EDI, GLA, DSA, BHX,NQY, PIK to name a few.
Pax arriving are expected to quarantine themselves for 14 days regardless of having symptoms or not, whilst maintaining social distancing once disembarked. Some Pax are tested on departure from their departure point, none are tested upon arrival, but if they follow regulations it restricts further spread. You have to rely on people being accountable for themselves to protect others. Testing on arrival would do little to change anything due CV19 taking 5 days to incubate.